''Sparisoma aurofrenatum'' (common names: redband parrotfish, gutong, rainbow parrot, black parrot, and blisterside) is a species of

parrotfish Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 fish species regarded as a Family (biology), family (Scaridae), or a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. With about 95 species, this group's largest species richness is in the Indo-Pacific. They are found ...

native to the

Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...

and

Western Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

Ocean.

Description

This species grows to 28 cm.

Initial phase

During the initial phase, the colouration varies greatly from blue-green to green to solid olive. The fins are mottled brown to red and have two white stripes. Behind the dorsal fin, a white spot is present.

Juvenile phase

The body of juvenile specimens are shades of red-brown. Normally, two white stripes will be visible with a black blotch present behind the upper gill covers. A white spot will also be present behind the dorsal fin. During both the juvenile and initial phases, colouration and markings can change quickly.

Terminal phase

The body becomes greenish during the terminal phase. The underside will appear lighter and the anal fin becomes reddish. The tail becomes more square-shaped with black outer tips. The upper portion of the forebody will display a small, yellow blotch with at least two small black dots. Normally, an orangish-pink colour band will be present starting from below the eye along to the corner of the mouth. A white spot will appear behind the dorsal fin.

Distribution

This species occurs throughout the

, and the western

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

in the waters of

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

, the

Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

and

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Habitat

''Sparisoma aurofrenatum'' lives on reefs in depths of 2 to 20 metres. The juveniles live among seagrass beds.

Behaviour

''Sparisoma aurofrenatum'' is solitary or found in small groups. It may found resting on the bottom. It is a

protogynous hermaphrodite Sequential hermaphroditism (called dichogamy in botany) is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life. In particular, ...

. While swimming about reefs, this fish will use only its pectoral fins. Only when requiring a sudden burst of speed will it use its tail. Specimens may be seen defecating frequently, which appears as a white cloud as it is mostly composed of coral limestone.

Diet

''Sparisoma aurofrenatum'' is a herbivore, feeding on algae and polyps it scrapes from rocks and coral using its 'beak'.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q3752243 aurofrenatum Fish of the Atlantic Ocean Fish of the Dominican Republic Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes Fish described in 1840